Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Laurel, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

Laurel rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Laurel median rent
$1,286/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Montana)
$57,710/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,809, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Laurel's median rent of $1,286 leaves roughly $157/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Laurel, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Butte, MT
$1,277/mo (26.6% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,255/mo (26.1% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,243/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laurel

View full rent data for Laurel, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Laurel, MT?

Median rent in Laurel is $1,286 a month. A typical real estate agent in Montana earns about $57,710 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Laurel?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Montana (~$57,710/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Laurel's current median rent is $1,286/mo, which leaves a $157/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Laurel?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in Montana works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Laurel's median rent of $1,286.

Where is rent cheaper than Laurel for a real estate agent?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,277/mo), Butte ($1,255/mo), Butte ($1,243/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Montana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Laurel, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.